Graham, who has led Rice to 18 consecutive postseason appearances and the school’s only national championship, received a five-year contract extension Monday. With one year remaining on his existing contract, the new deal will keep Graham in the Owls’ dugout through the 2018 season.

“It is innervating, invigorating, inspiring and exciting and propels me into the next phase of my career,” Graham said.

In 21 seasons at Rice, Graham is 953-380 and this season led the Owls to the Conference USA regular-season title, extending the school’s streak of 17 consecutive championships. Under Graham, the Owls have won at least 40 games in 18 consecutive seasons, made seven trips to the College World Series and captured the 2003 national title.

Graham will be inducted into the College Baseball Hall of Fame on June 30 in Lubbock.

“As long as I’m passionate about it – and I’m very passionate – I’m going to keep doing it,” said Graham, who could reach his milestone 1,000th win at Rice by late next season.

A day after the Owls were eliminated from the Houston Regional for the second consecutive year, Graham already was focusing on next season. He had exit meetings with each player and vowed to “be demanding” as the team corrects some of the things – namely hitting with runners in scoring position – that abruptly ended this season. The Owls return a deep pitching staff, have a talented incoming freshman class but will likely need to replace five everyday starters.

“We’re going to start the fall with people looking at film, players as well as coaches, figuring out how to get back to Omaha,” Graham said of the team’s four-year College World Series drought. We’ve got to quit backing off the demands that are necessary. We know what they are and we’ve got to demand it of ourselves and of the players. And we will.”